DK response to CMs budget a mixed bag

DK response to CMs budget a mixed bag

Mangalore Today News Network

Feb 09, 2019: With some seeing it as a “balanced budget”, others considered it “disappointing”. Some said that the budget had failed to offer major projects for the comprehensive development of Dakshina Kannada (DK) district. The state budget presented by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on February 8, Friday, has evoked a mixed response in Mangaluru.

Terming the budget ‘balanced’, CPI district secretary V Kukyan said: “The budget has given thrust to agriculture and earmarked funds for crop loan waiver. It fulfils the government’s election promise.”

He welcomed the increase in honorarium for Anganwadi and Asha workers. All projects proposed in the budget should be implemented effectively, he stressed.

The former member of Karnataka State Planning Board and Professor at the MBA department of Alva’s College said: “This budgets’s positive side is that it has allocated a considerable amount for agriculture and allied activities. The agriculture sector demands huge investment. The budget lacks planning as it has only proposed temporary measures to tackle drought. Long term planning is needed for drought-hit taluks. Insufficient amounts are set aside for the promotion of tourism in coastal districts. The promotion of tourism will benefit the economy of the coastal areas and most of the state,” he pointed out.

KCCI President Abdul Hamid termed the budget as ‘development friendly and green’. “It is a green budget for stress on agriculture, allied activities and promotion of organic farming,” he said.

District JD(S) president Mohammed Kunhi said: “Despite JD(S) not having MLAs in the coastal belt, the budget has not neglected coastal districts. Incentives for paddy growers in the coastal belt, hike in incentives for milk producers will benefit the region. The budget has also proposed a feasibility study for metro rail in Mangaluru,” he observed.

District BJP vice-president Ravishankar Mijar said that the budget had no concrete plans for DK district. “It was presented keeping in mind the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls,” he criticised.

Tulu film producer Vijaya Kumar Shetty opined: “It is a good move by the government to promote regional language movies by earmarking Rs 1 crore. At present, only four regional movies get subsidies. As there is an increase in the number of regional language movies, subsidy should be increased to at least 25 regional movies,” he remarked.